Membership

Participating Libraries

CARLI has 128 Governing members. CARLI member libraries serve over 90% of Illinois higher education students, faculty and staff. CARLI comprises public and private schools, with two-year, four-year, and specialized programs of instruction including museums, historical societies, and private research libraries. The CARLI member libraries serve primarily the students, faculty and staffs of degree granting academic institutions.

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Membership Benefits

Among the many benefits of CARLI membership are the I-Share integrated library system that serves 90 institutions; E-resources brokering, with over 2600 database subscriptions managed in 2022; the Illinois Library Delivery Service (ILDS), offering 24-hour delivery among 142 CARLI libraries and the state regional library systems; and the CARLI Digital Collections providing access to myriad special collections, containing over 3.1 Terabytes of items including images, printed and manuscript materials, sound recordings, and the Saskia Art Image and Sanborn Maps of Illinois collections. 

Visual Summary of FY 2023 Value of CARLI Membership

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Membership Eligibility and Fees

CARLI membership is open to all institutions that are recognized as an Illinois institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and that are an ILLINET member. Other academic or research institutions that have a similar academic or research mission and the potential to contribute to the advancement of CARLI and its members, but don’t meet these criteria may petition the CARLI Board for membership. Each member library retains autonomy over its staff, operations, and budget. However, participation in CARLI requires collaboration and commitment to the Consortium.

Governing Members are eligible to participate in all CARLI products, services, and programs, at fullest level of central support and may participate in all CARLI committees, task forces, and user groups. Governing members pay an annual fee calculated by student FTE enrollment and institution type. Annual membership fees range from a minimum of $2155 to a maximum of $15,914 for FY24.

Non-Members are eligible to participate in CARLI email discussion lists and may attend CARLI workshops, training events and forums (when space permits.)  

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Membership Agreement

The mission of CARLI is to lead Illinois academic libraries to create and sustain a rich, supportive, and diverse knowledge environment that furthers teaching, learning, and research through the sharing of collections, expertise, and programs.

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Agreement for I-Share Participant Institutions

I-Share is an online catalog and library management system operated by and for the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) to support library resource sharing among participating member institutions. Participation in I-Share is available only to CARLI Governing Members libraries. CARLI members seeking to participate in I-Share must complete an I-Share application process and meet criteria beyond those required for general membership in CARLI. Participation in I-Share is granted at the discretion of the CARLI Board of Directors.

Download the I-Share Participant Agreement >>